No word yet from MLAs kidnappers

BHUBANESWAR: The State Government still does not have any clue about the BJD MLA from Laxmipur Jhina Hikaka, abducted on the wee hours on Saturday, as no Maoist faction has so far claimed responsibility for the kidnapping.Even though posters of Koraput-Srikakulum division  of the Maoists with some demands were found from the spot where the kidnapping took place, the Government  has not received any communication from the abductors so far. Lack of any communication from the abductors has raised concern about the fate of the legislator.Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, who reviewed the situation at a high level meeting on Sunday, told mediapersons that the Government is yet to hear from the kidnappers of his party MLA and hoped that they will get in touch soon for his release.“We have got no response yet from the abductors of the MLA, Jhina Hikaka. I hope they will respond immediately and get in touch so that we can start discussion on his release,” Naveen said.“I hope the MLA will be released immediately in perfect health and unharmed,” the Chief Minister said, adding the legislator, who was abducted on Saturday, is very popular and is known for the good work in Koraput district and his constituency Laxmipur. He said Hikaka’s family members were very concerned.Revenue Minister Surya Narayan Patro, who rushed to Laxmipur along with SC/ST Development Minister Lalbihari Himirika on Saturday to take stock of the situation, said they went to the BSF camp in the area and met the family members besides reviewing the situation.Nabarangpur MP Pradip Majhi, who had on Saturday  offered to negotiate with the Maoists for the release of the abducted MLA, also expressed concern over the matter. No steps can be taken for the release of the MLA unless his whereabouts are known or any organisation claims responsibility, he said.The MLA was abducted by suspected Maoists at 1 am on Saturday near Toyaput on the Koraput-Laxmipur road while returning from Semiliguda where he had been to attend a meeting on election to the post of vice-president of Zilla Parishad.The kidnap of the MLA was preceded by the gunning down of a police sub-inspector in Malkangiri on March 22 and the killing of two policemen in a landmine blast in Koraput on March 18.